Indeed, a big budget cannot ensure a championship, but it certainly makes a difference in baseball. In Major League Baseball, teams that spend big are usually one step ahead. A live example lies in the NL West, where the Los Angeles Dodgers have a clear edge as they have turned spending big into an art. They never leave a chance to stack up their roster with superstars, which obviously comes with a spending spree. But more than that, it comes with criticisms too.
Arizona Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick has been keeping tabs on the Dodgers for dominating the division. Now, he has openly called out the team for massive payroll disparity and labelled it as an “unfair advantage.” According to him, their financial dominance distorts the playing field. He even took it to AZ Central and stated, “Are their baseball people and their owners smarter than all the others? I don’t think so!” Questioning LA’s front office smartness – that’s a bold statement to make, especially if you’re publicly making it.
But he didn’t stop there.
“Our game, by virtue of how playoffs work, evens the playing field by some degree in the playoffs.” He arguably meant that the payroll disparity simply cannot be ignored. The Diamondbacks have a $189 million payroll. And as per Kendrick, the teams that have a big budget can inevitably have an edge in winning championships.
Kendrick has a clear stance that this massive payroll gap isn’t fair to others. “When you see one team with a payroll that is 5x their competitor, they’re going to win.” Honestly, his frustration over the payroll gap is backed by the Dodgers’ jaw-dropping $354.8 million payroll.
So, of course, the criticisms are inevitable. Since 2020, they’ve stacked their roster with big names. From Mookie Betts to Freddie Freeman, Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki, and the legendary Shohei Ohtani. Having such sensations already puts them one step ahead of the competition.
Not just the numbers, even the history backs Kendrick’s frustration. The Los Angeles Dodgers have won 11 NL West titles over the past 12 years and two World Series titles in the last 5 years.
But hey, the Dodgers won’t be slowing down their big budget, regardless of the fiery criticisms. And as for the Diamondbacks, well, there is always hope in the unpredictability of baseball.
Dodgers’ opening day payroll breaks the records
It’s not the first time that the Dodgers’ payroll is making headlines. But it’s definitely different this time. They’ve taken things to the next level. The new numbers have shattered records and have set an unparalleled benchmark for the entire league.
The unbelievable $354.8 million payroll and a competitive balance tax payroll estimated to be $393.75 million is the brand new MLB record. Last year, the Dodgers paid $103 million in luxury tax. And this year? It’s a staggering $143.4 million. It could even go up as the season progresses.
A major factor in their spending is Blake Snell’s contract. For instance, he will get all of his $52 million signing bonus this year, along with $12.8 million of his $26 million salary in 2025. And did you know how Shohei Ohtani’s deal is structured? He receives just $2 million of his salary every year till 2033. And the rest of the $680 million deferred in $68 million annually for the next 10 years (2034-2043) – that is, after his contract ends with LA.
On the other hand, players such as Teoscar Hernández, Tommy Edman, and Will Smith are also entitled to signing bonuses. And so does Justin Turner, who last played for the Dodgers in 2022. So, even though their payroll is record-breaking, they always navigate a way to control spending through the idea of deferrals.
Well, what else, but not smart? You have to give it to the Dodgers, no?
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